Instructions for Form W-12 - Notices

Privacy Act and Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.

We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. This information will
be used to issue a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Our authority to collect this information is found in Section
3710 of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 and Internal Revenue Code section 6109. Under section
6109, return preparers are required to provide their identification number on what they prepare. Applying for a PTIN is mandatory
if you prepare U.S. tax returns for compensation. Providing incomplete information may delay or prevent processing of this
application; providing false or fraudulent information may subject you to penalties.

You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless
the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as
long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, the information you
provide on this form is confidential pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 and tax returns and return information are confidential
pursuant to Code section 6103. However, we are authorized to disclose this information to contractors to perform the contract,
to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S.
commonwealths and possessions for use in their return preparer oversight activities and administration of their tax laws.
We may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce federal
nontax criminal laws, to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism, or to the general public to
assist them in identifying those individuals authorized by the IRS to prepare tax returns or claims for refund.

The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated burden for those
who file this form is shown below.

Recordkeeping

6 hr., 56 min.

Learning about the law or the form .........

35 min.

Preparing and sending the form .............

44 min.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would
be happy to hear from you. You can write to the Internal Revenue Service, Tax Products Coordinating Committee, SE:W:CAR:MP:T:M:S,
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526, Washington, DC 20224. Do not send this form to this address. Instead, see By mail, earlier.